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D R A F T January 4, 2012 <br /> and the wastewater applied to land and that is capable of demonstrating that the land <br /> application of wastewater complies with the Basin Plan. The Board notes that Order <br /> No. R5-2007-0113 contains expanded monitoring requirements that may address this <br /> deficiency, although, as noted previously, the monitoring frequency for priority pollutants in the <br /> groundwater, pond wastewater, and wastewater used for agricultural irrigation is probably <br /> inadequate to meaningfully assess groundwater impacts. <br /> The City has several options to address the waste releases from the storage <br /> ponds to ensure consistency with Title 27. The City can line the ponds to prevent waste <br /> releases to groundwater. Alternatively, the City can improve the quality of wastewater <br /> discharged to the ponds in order to ensure that waste releases comply with Basin Plan <br /> groundwater objectives. As stated previously, the City is proposing repairs and operational <br /> improvements to the Facility that could significantly reduce nitrogen concentrations in the <br /> wastewater effluent. These include redirection of the biosolids lagoon supernatant, repair of the <br /> leaking municipal influent pipe, and improvements to enhance nitrification and denitrification. <br /> Done properly, the expanded monitoring program may be able to assess whether these <br /> changes are successful. Operational and design improvements to the onsite ponds can also be <br /> evaluated to address groundwater quality impacts. The City should consider enhanced <br /> pretreatment requirements for its industrial dischargers. The City may also want to consider <br /> either routing its industrial wastewater and industrial and agricultural stormwater runoff through <br /> the headworks of the treatment plant or discontinue storing those wastestreams in the storage <br /> ponds so that the storage ponds can qualify for the sewage treatment plant exemption from <br /> Title 27. In addition, the City can improve the treatment of the municipal effluent applied to land <br /> beyond secondary standards. <br /> With respect to salt management, the Board notes that Order No. R5-2007-0113 <br /> requires the City to prepare a salinity evaluation and minimization plan to address salt sources <br /> and to provide annual progress reports on salinity reductions in its discharges to Dredger Cut <br /> and the agricultural fields.48 Experience shows that sources of salt in municipal wastewater can <br /> be managed and reduced. Likewise, the City can control salinity in the untreated industrial <br /> wastewater line through pretreatment requirements. The Board recognizes that elevated <br /> salinity in surface water and groundwater throughout the Central Valley is an increasing <br /> problem. The State Water Board and the Central Valley Water Board have initiated a <br /> 98 Order No. R5-2007-0113,VI.C.3.b. <br /> 20. <br />